Additionally, this conference will provide an opportunity to share knowledge and experience as well as further the dialogue on reconciliation and renewed relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments and organizations.

Sustainable Futures

Conference participants will explore a number of sub-themes, including sustainability, policy innovation and leadership. Sustainability will be a key priority for all Canadians and their governments in the coming years. The conference will examine sustainability topics as they relate to the environment, energy, food and communities. Off-site tours will showcase Prince Edward Island’s progress in addressing these areas of interest.

In the spirit of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, the theme of the conference is “Strong Foundations, Sustainable Futures.”

Paul Ledwell

Associate Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada

Welcome from our Honourary Co-Chairs

We are pleased to invite you to the 69th National Annual IPAC Conference which will be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from August 20th to the 23rd. Our theme this year, Strong Foundations – Sustainable Futures, is inspired by Canada’s 150th anniversary. The theme aims to open conversations about sustainability, leadership, and policy innovation, as well as their inherent relationships, in the context of Canada past, present and future. In keeping with IPAC’s 2017 National Year of Dialogue, the conference will also serve as a platform to share knowledge and experience about reconciliation and renewed relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments and organizations. Working through these themes, we will strive toward continuing excellence in the public service. We look forward to seeing you this summer and to welcoming you to the beautiful province of Prince Edward Island – come early and stay late to enjoy all that the island has to offer!

Karen Ellis

Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet / Deputy Minister

Policy & Priorities and Intergovernmental and Public Affairs

Be part of an interactive program on themes to strengthen the public service

Sustainability will be a key priority for all Canadians and their governments in the coming years. The conference will examine in some detail sustainability issues as they relate to the environment, energy, food and communities. Off-site tours will showcase Prince Edward Island’s progress in addressing these issues.

In a world of increasing complexity and accelerating change, making good policy is arguably more vital than ever before. These factors that create a growing need for good policy also impact the processes and practices for developing it - creating both challenges and opportunities for all levels of governments. Canadian clerks and cabinet secretaries have recognized the importance of policy innovation by making it a core element of their shared agenda over the past two years, and IPAC is supporting this focus by making policy innovation one of the three themes of the 2017 Annual Conference.

The realities of leadership are ever evolving. It can be as broad as the leadership approach that one takes; but it also entails the responsibility – and potential burdens – of being in a leadership role, particularly for those of us in the public sector. Canada’s ever-expanding role on the world stage brings the dynamics of populism and globalization to the forefront, with cross-cultural engagement and strategic service integration possessing new meaning in this time of Reconciliation. Social media, as well, creates its own challenges and provides a new depth to the conversation of leadership that has never existed before. The consideration of leadership in 2017 is an intricate dialogue that will be exciting to explore.

Chris is the Chief Administrative Officer with the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick. He began his career with the City of Fredericton 41 years ago as a laborer and moved up through the ranks joining the CAO’s office in 2001. Chris is a former President of the IPAC Fredericton Regional group and a Past President of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators. A graduate of the University of New Brunswick he holds undergraduate degrees in Physical Education and Business Administration and also holds a Master of Arts Degree from UNB. A Lean6Sigma Green and Black Belt his expertise is in process improvement. Chris also holds an ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management at the U of T.

Chief Lisa Cooper

Dominic Barton

Chair of the Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth

Chair of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council

Bio

Dominic Barton is the Chair of the Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth and the Chair of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council. He is also a Trustee of the Brookings Institution, a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s International Advisory Council, and a member of the boards of Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Dominic Barton is the Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company. In his 31 years with the firm, Dominic has advised clients in a range of industries including banking, consumer goods, high tech and industrials. Prior to his current role, Dominic was based in Shanghai as McKinsey’s Asia Chairman from 2004 to 2009 and led the Korea office from 2000 to 2004.

He serves on the board of FCLT Global (Focusing Capital on the Long Term), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing practical tools and approaches that encourage long-term behaviors in business and investment decision-making.

Dominic has authored more than 80 articles on the role of business in society, leadership, financial services, Asia, history and the issues and opportunities facing markets worldwide. Dominic is a co-author, with Roberto Newell and Greg Wilson, of Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises (Wiley & Sons, 2002), China Vignettes: An Inside Look at China (Talisman, 2007) and co-author with Dezso Horvath and Matthias Kipping of Reimagining Capitalism (Oxford University Press, 2016).

Dominic has received multiple awards for his business leadership and contributions to the communities in which he has lived and worked. In February 2013 Dominic received the Order of Civil Merit (Peony Medal) from former President Lee of South Korea and in August 2014 he was awarded the Singaporean Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore). He is a Rhodes Trustee and an Honorary Fellow at Brasenose College, Oxford. Dominic is also an Adjunct Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing.

Elizabeth Hardy head’s up the Behavioural Insights and Design team at the Privy Council Office’s Innovation Hub, Government of Canada. She leads the application of behavioural science and experimentation to public policy challenges. Previously, Elizabeth led the Behavioural Insights Unit in the Government of Ontario, where she was instrumental in creating and building Canada’s first behavioural science team in government. To date, Elizabeth has successfully completed trials dealing with public health, tax collection, regulatory compliance, and service delivery. She continues to collaborate with stakeholders in government as well as the academic community and is a passionate advocate for building a culture of experimentation within policy and program delivery. Her research—Moving Citizens Online: Salience and Framing as Motivators for Behavioral Change – was recently published in the Journal of Behavioral Science and Policy.

Chair, Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth

Director, Economic and Corporate Initiatives, Government of BC

Julian Stodd

Writer and consultant on the Social Age

Bio

Julian Stodd is a writer and consultant on the Social Age. He specialises in exploring learning design, the role of communities, social collaborative technology and social leadership. Author of eight books, including 'Exploring the World of Social Learning', and 'The Social Leadership Handbook', and over a thousand articles and blog posts, Julian works on strategy and delivery with many global organisations. You can find his latest writing at www.julianstodd.wordpress.com.

Julian is the founder of Sea Salt Learning, where he helps organisations get fit for the Social Age. Clients include financial services, military, manufacturing and petrochemical, as well as healthcare and charity. Julian splits his time between writing and working around the world, exploring the strategy and implementation of learning, leadership and cultural change.

#sociallearning #e-learning #mobilelearning #writing

Hon. Michelle Rempel

Member of Parliament, Alberta

Bio

Michelle is a Canadian Member of Parliament. She has served in cabinet as the Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment. She presently serves as the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

Michelle has a professional background in intellectual property management and technology transfer. Prior to her election, Michelle directed the sponsored research portfolio of a top Canadian university, and was a senior consultant with a Canadian management consulting firm.

Michelle holds a degree in economics. She has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women's Executive Network, one of Calgary's "Top 40 under 40", one of Alberta's "50 Most Influential People", and twice named a Canadian "Parliamentarian of the Year". Michelle is also a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Alex Conliffe

Julian Stodd

Executive Director for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

ISED Team TBC

Writer and consultant on the Social Age

Chief Public Health Officer

Government of PEI

Senator Murray Sinclair

Bio

Senator Sinclair served the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years. He was the first Aboriginal Judge appointed in Manitoba and Canada’s second.

He served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As head of the TRC, he participated in hundreds of hearings across Canada, culminating in the issuance of the TRC’s report in 2015. He also oversaw an active multi-million dollar fundraising program to support various TRC events and activities, and to allow survivors to travel to attend TRC events.

Senator Sinclair has been invited to speak throughout Canada, the United States and internationally, including the Cambridge Lectures for members of the Judiciary of various Commonwealth Courts in England.

He served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Manitoba. He was very active within his profession and his community and has won numerous awards, including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Manitoba Bar Association’s Equality Award (2001) and its Distinguished Service Award (2016) and has received Honorary Doctorates from 8 Canadian universities. Senator Sinclair was appointed to the Senate on April 2, 2016.

Former Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Colleen Hanrahan

Senator Murray Sinclair

Greg Orencsak

Partner, Government and Public Sector, EY

Bio

As part of EY’s team, Greg Orencsak works with government clients to drive transformational change. Greg supports clients as they look to tackle disruption and make the necessary public policy and economic decisions that will enable them to innovate and better serve citizens.

Over a career that now spans almost two decades, Greg has become a seasoned public sector leader who delivers results and champions innovation. Prior to joining EY, Greg served as the Province of Ontario’s deputy minister of the Treasury Board. In prior roles, he was the deputy minister in the Ministry of Government Services and associate deputy minister of Finance. He was also Chair of Ontario’s Public Service Commission. Greg is an executive that excels at leading transformation, financial policy and management, policy development, implementation and strategic planning.

Former Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Executive Director, Open Government and Innovation in Executive Council Office at the Government of New Brunswick

William D. Eggers

Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Government Insights

Bio

William D. Eggers is the Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Government Insights and has been an author, columnist, consultant, and popular speaker for more than two decades. He is a leading authority on government reform and is responsible for research and thought leadership for Deloitte’s public sector industry practice. His new book, Delivering on Digital: The Innovators and Technologies that are Transforming Government, will be published in June 2016. His eight other books include The Solution Revolution: How Government, Business, and Social Enterprises are Teaming up to Solve Society’s Biggest Problems (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013, which was named to 10 “best books of the year” lists. Bill’s commentary has appeared in dozens of major media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. Join Bill at the IPAC National Conference as he speaks about how Artificial Intelligence-augmented government has the potential to revolutionize the public sector.

Robert Shepherd

William D. Eggers

Yazmine Laroche

Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities

Bio

Yazmine Laroche was appointed Associate Deputy Minister, Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on November 25, 2013.

She began her public service career at Transport Canada and has over twenty-five years of experience in public policy, program design and delivery, communications, strategic planning and corporate management. She has served in a number of federal departments, including Communications, Canadian Heritage, the Canada Information Office, Privy Council Office, Treasury Board Secretariat and Infrastructure Canada.

She was appointed to the position of Assistant Deputy Minister in 2000. In 2004, Ms. Laroche joined the Privy Council Office to develop the Government of Canada's “New Deal for Cities and Communities” where she led the team that developed the Gas Tax Fund and the Public Transit Fund.

Ms. Laroche is the Deputy Minister Champion for Federal Employees with Disabilities. She is an alumna of Carleton University and the past Chair of the Board of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Government Insights

Policy Analyst, Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning / Department of Rural and Regional Development, Government of PEI

Ms. Ellis served as President of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) from 2013-2015.

Prior to joining FedDev Ontario, Ms. Ellis served as Associate Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada (2011-13), Assistant Commissioner for the Ontario Region at the Canada Revenue Agency (2008–11),Vice-President and Senior Vice-President at the Canada Public Service Agency (2006–08) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment, at the Department of National Defence (2002–06).

In 2011, she was presented the Joan Atkinson Award for her exceptional contribution to public service.

Ms. Ellis holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa.

Chris Zhou

Karen Ellis

David Cormier

Education Development Officer, Government of PEI

Bio

Dave Cormier is an educational researcher and speaker on Open Learning, MOOCs and the impact of technology on the future of education. Dave is currently Education Development Officer at the Department Education, Early Learning and Culture and responsible for the development of a provincial K-12 Education Technology strategy. He is also a member of the PEI Policy Innovation Group.

As an educational technology strategist Dave has participated or led strategic education discussions nationally and internationally including with the IEEE in Washington DC., at Nee Ann Polytechnic Singapore, The University of South Pacific, St. Norbert College, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and The Commonwealth of Learning. As one of two Canadian representatives at the Inaugural Leadership Roundtable on Academic Transformation, Digital Learning, and Design at Georgetown University, his current research interest is in how to support adaptive change in education. At the University of Prince Edward Island he was lead student retention, academic planning, domestic recruitment, first year advisement, New Student Orientation and Web Communications.

Beginning with Edtechtalk.com in 2005 Dave has been working with k12 educators around the world on projects large and small. His current work at the Department of Education focuses on solving real world teacher problems with technology and developing teacher digital literacy to encourage the integration of digital tools across the curriculum.

Dr. Heather G. Morrison was appointed Chief Public Health Officer in July 2007. A graduate of UPEI, Dr. Morrison was also Prince Edward Island’s first female Rhodes Scholar. At Oxford University, she completed a Master’s and a Doctoral degree, majoring in Comparative Social Research and Social Policy, with a doctoral dissertation in health policy decision-making. She returned to Canada for her medical training, graduating as an MD from Dalhousie University, followed by specialist training in Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr. Morrison chairs the Canadian Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, and has co-chaired the Provincial Infection Prevention and Control Program Advisory Committee for many years. Dr. Morrison was Acting Deputy Minister of Health and Wellness for Prince Edward Island between April 2016 and mid-July 2016. Dr. Morrison has practiced medicine in Ontario, Saipan, and PEI, where she resides with her husband and 4 young children.

Chief Public Health Officer

Paul Ledwell

Bio

In May 2015, Paul Ledwell was appointed Deputy Minister of Policy and Priorities and became the chief policy advisor to Premier Wade MacLauchlan. This new role combined the positions of Principal Secretary and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental and Public Affairs. On June 20, 2016, Mr. Ledwell’s responsibilities were extended, becoming the Clerk of Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet. In this capacity, Paul provides leadership to the public service in implementing key policies in the government’s mandate with a focus on people, prosperity and engagement. Working closely with the senior management team, Mr. Ledwell is taking a collaborative approach to moving forward the Government’s priorities, including job creation, growing the economy and the population, effective family and human services, stewardship of land and environment, and healthcare.

Mr. Ledwell is a seasoned leader, with 25 years of senior-level experience in public policy, government affairs, strategic communications and research, including extensive work with partners in government, private and voluntary sectors, and the media. Throughout his career, Paul has established an extensive network of leaders in all sectors, with whom he collaborates regularly.

Prior to returning to Prince Edward Island for his current role, Mr. Ledwell served as Vice-President, Government Clients, with Morneau Shepell, Canada’s leading provider of integrated human capital solutions. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as Executive Vice-President at Canada’s Public Policy Forum, where he led the Forum’s work on innovation, public governance and the economy and contributed to thought leadership in public finance, human capital, health and trade files.

Previously, he served as President of the Canadian-based think tank The Institute on Governance, as Director of Government Relations and Communications at the University of Ottawa, and as Executive Director of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Paul has led major national initiatives, including the National Summit on Pension Reform, the National Dialogue on Higher Education, the National Consortium for Research and the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. He has been a regular commentator in the media and an invited speaker to conferences in Canada and around the world. Internationally, he has been engaged on issues related to democratic development and governance in Asia and the Middle East, and on innovation and higher education policy in the United States and Europe. He has contributed, in a volunteer capacity, to many national organizations and currently contributes his time with several national and international organizations.

A native of Prince Edward Island, Paul and his wife Shelia are thrilled to be back on PEI after 23 years in Ottawa and Toronto.

Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet, and Deputy Minister of Policy and Priorities

Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet, and Deputy Minister of Policy and Priorities

Colleen McCormick

Director, Economic and Corporate Initiatives, Government of BC

Bio

Colleen McCormick is director of Economic Development & Corporate Initiatives, with the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training, and former director of innovative partnerships in the Ministry of Social Development, where she managed social innovation. Among other things, Colleen teaches on Intrapreneurship, is the founder of Social Innovators Network, mentor for TEDxVictoria, and a blogger for Canadian Government Executive magazine.

Bob Ashley

Bio

Bob Ashley has been Chief Administrative Officer in a mix of municipal environments—a small town (Berwick, NS), a large rural county (Kings, NS), and now a small city (Summerside).

Bob’s been active with peer associations in NS and PEI and Canada. He was Chair of the NS Municipal Website Venture. He is now Vice-President of PEI’s municipal administrator’s association. Bob’s 2015 submission to the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators’ Awards of Excellence captured 1st place and the City of Summerside was awarded the Willis Prize for Municipal Innovation.

As a young man, he ran a professional photo lab in Toronto, with clients across Canada. In the 90s, he migrated to Nova Scotia to farm sheep and apples.

Bob graduated first in his class with an Honours B.A.(First Class) in Linguistics from Saint Mary's, and awarded the Governor General’s Silver Medal. His Masters of Public Administration from Dalhousie earned him both the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal and the Guy Henson Medal from Dal’s School of Public Admin. Recognized in the arts, he's won poetry prizes, including the Atlantic Writers Federation. Bob is a lifetime student of the classical guitar, bicycle mechanics, and armchair philosophy.

Chief Administrative Officer, City of Summerside, PEI

Doug Keefe

Bob Ashley

Partner, Government and Public Sector, EY

Chief Administrative Officer, City of Summerside, PEI

Nick Scott

Executive Director, Open Government and Innovation in Executive Council Office at the Government of New Brunswick

Bio

Nick Scott is Executive Director, Open Government and Innovation in Executive Council Office at the Government of New Brunswick. Most recently he served as Executive Director of the NB Social Policy Research Network (NBSPRN); a partnership between the Government of New Brunswick and the province’s Post-Secondary Institutions with the mission of advancing evidence-based policy development and citizen engagement through Networked Governance. At NBSPRN Nick founded the GovMaker Conference, the NouLAB public and social innovation lab, and hosted the 2016 Canadian Open Data Summit.

Gina Wilson

Bio

Gina Wilson began her career in her First Nation community of Kitigan-Zibi as Executive Director of Health and Social Services and as Director of the Wanaki Treatment Centre. Ms. Wilson was a Senior Manager with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), a national Aboriginal organization representing First Nation communities in Canada when she joined the Federal Government in 1996 and for five years served as Director General, Aboriginal Affairs at Correctional Service Canada. In 2003, she became Director General at Human Resources Skills Development Canada, before moving to the Privy Council Office (PCO) in 2005 as Director General of Engagement, where she organized a First Ministers Meeting.

Ms. Wilson was appointed in 2006 as Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) with Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada and was a partner in the implementation of a settlement agreement for approximately 80,000 survivors of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Her office oversaw the co-ordination of events leading to the Prime Minister's historic Apology on June 11, 2008. She then was named Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations, at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and was responsible for the implementation of operations and programming in seven regions. She was also a participant in the Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) in 2009.

Ms. Wilson was Assistant Deputy Minister of Emergency Management and Regional Operations at Public Safety Canada in 2011-2013, where she lead a national emergency management system and strategies to reduce and mitigate disasters in Canada and then was Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Treaties and Aboriginal Government at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada focused on reconciling Aboriginal and Crown interests through the negotiation and implementation of modern treaties.

Ms. Wilson was then appointed as Associate Deputy Minister at Employment and Social Development Canada in March, 2014 where she served the Minister of State for Seniors and the Minister of State for Social Development, while tackling departmental efforts to reduce the backlog at the Social Security Tribunal. In addition, Ms. Wilson led initiatives such as "Job Bank/Job Match" - a national website to match employers and job seekers and several additional corporate and workplace initiatives.

Most recently, Ms. Wilson was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada where she focused her efforts on transforming the department to a healthy and caring workplace, and led files such as cannabis legislation, firearms and criminal justice reform.

Gina Wilson was appointed Deputy Minister of Status of Women Canada on May 23, 2017.

Deputy Minister of Status of Women Canada

Michael Baldwin

Gina Wilson

Member of Parliament, Alberta

Deputy Minister of Status of Women Canada

Ryan Conway

Program Director for Innoweave

Bio

Ryan Conway is the Program Director for Innoweave, an initiative of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. His program works directly with coaches, content developers and community organizations to build their capacity to use social innovation approaches to enhance their impact. Innoweave offers an open, national platform for coaching and granting, as well as several special initiatives run in partnership with provincial and federal governments which focus on specific domains, such as homelessness, newcomer integration and social isolation.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Ryan worked for Public Policy Forum, serving as Project Lead for major national projects on pension reform, agricultural policy and innovation policy. He has also worked for the Government of Canada

Joshua Frame

Bio

Joshua started his public service career in Ottawa in the Canada Revenue Agency and has held roles in management, project management, budgeting, process improvement, and systems implementation over the last 8 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from York University and has lived in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Honolulu over the past 15 years. He became the Chair of the Future Leaders of Ontario in May 2015 and developed numerous programs including the #MinuteMentoring video series and Lessons for Emerging Leaders video series, province-wide learning events in cooperation with the CRA’s Ontario Region Young Professionals Network (ORYPN), and many collaborations with the Canada School of Public Service. He became the National Chair of the Federal Youth Network in November 2016 and looks forward to engaging public servants across the country in innovative events and programs over the next year.

National Chair of the Federal Youth Network/Chair of the Future Leaders of Ontario

Saäd Rafi

Joshua Frame

Associate Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Communities

National Chair of the Federal Youth Network/Chair of the Future Leaders of Ontario

Alicia Bruce

Policy Analyst, Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning / Department of Rural and Regional Development, Government of PEI

Bio

Alicia Bruce is a Policy Analyst with the Government of Prince Edward Island. She graduated with a BA from McGill in 2012 majoring in International Development Studies with a specialization in Economic Development and Living Standards, and minors in International Relations and Sustainable Resource Management. Her short career has seen her work in Kenya in microfinance; study food security and water resources in the Caribbean; volunteer on boards of directors for national and provincial non-profits; research and develop shellfish aquaculture leasing policy; win a startup competition with a concept designed to reduce fisheries waste; fail at her first business venture; join her grandfather off the eastern tip of PEI as a fifth-generation lobster fisher for 5 seasons; and in her current role, working on rural development and youth retention in Prince Edward Island. Alicia is passionate about public policy, social entrepreneurship, community-based economic development, sustainable fisheries, and global food issues. She and her New Yorker-turned-Islander husband live in Souris West, PEI with their flock of chickens.

Shauna Sullivan Curley

Bio

Shauna Sullivan Curley was appointed the Ethics and Integrity Commissioner for the Government of Prince Edward Island on March 31, 2015. She started out her career in the private practice of law, and joined the Prince Edward Island public service as a departmental solicitor in 1989. From 1995 until 2013 she served in various deputy minister roles with the Prince Edward Island government, including Justice and Attorney General, Education and Early Childhood Development, Environment, and Labour. For several years, she was the Chair of the PEI Deputy Ministers’ Council.

In 2006 Shauna received the IPAC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. She is a past president of the PEI Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and Community Legal Information Association of Prince Edward Island.

An active community volunteer, Shauna is a member of the national Board of Directors of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Board of Governors of the University of Prince Edward Island. She is an elder and trustee at the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown.

Ethics and Integrity Commissioner for the Government of Prince Edward Island

Alma MacDougall

Shauna Sullivan Curley

Chief Administrative Officer, City of Fredericton

Ethics and Integrity Commissioner for the Government of PEI

Chrystia Chudzak

Executive Director for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

ISED Team TBC

Bio

Chrystia has worked as a public servant for over 30 years and debuted as a Legislative Assistant for a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. Most recently, she was the Assistant Commissioner of the Northern Pipeline Agency (NPA), where she was responsible for restarting and scaling a federal agency mandated to regulate the building of the Alaskan Gas Highway pipeline. She officially came aboard the Innovation Lab in October 2015.

Chrystia holds an MPA from Carleton University and an MBA from the University of Ottawa. She completed a BA in Soviet and Eastern European studies from Carleton and a BA in Visual arts from UOttawa. She worked for one year as a lecturer and teaching assistant at Ottawa University’s Introduction to Public Administration course for undergraduates. She has worked as a Senior Strategy Consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Ottawa and is also a professional documentary photographer and runs her own business.

Barbara MacQuarrie

Bio

Barb MacQuarrie is the Community Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children in the Faculty of Education at the Western University. She develops and promotes evidence based education and prevention initiatives involving both community-based and university-based partners. Barb has presented to a wide variety of audiences locally, nationally and internationally about gendered violence, its impacts and strategies to address it. She has published in numerous journals and produced films on topics related to violence and abuse. Barb coordinated the first national Canadian study on the impacts of domestic violence on workers and the workplace. She convenes the International Domestic Violence at Work Network, which includes over 30 academics, advocates, unions and employer organizations from around the world. She is a recipient of the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest official honour, recognizing individual excellence and achievement.

Community Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children in the Faculty of Education at the Western University

Clara Pasieka

Barbara MacQuarrie

Education Development Officer, Government of PEI

Community Director, Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children, Western University

President

Dare to Lead

Bob Eckstein

Bio

Bob spent over 20 years working in the youth justice system in New Brunswick as a counselor, social worker, youth advocate, and senior policy and program adviser.

He has a BA and Bachelor of Social Work degree from Saint Thomas University and a Masters’ degree in Social Work from Carleton University in Ottawa.

For 10 years he taught part-time in the Criminology program at Saint Thomas University.

For the past 6 years, Bob has been the Director for the Province wide implementation of the Integrated Service Delivery framework/model for children and youth with significant emotional behavioural and mental health issues. This leading change initiative is transforming the way multiple departments and agencies work better together to provide more proactive services to children and youth.

In January 2017, the ISD program received a national IPAC / Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Award which recognizes organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership by improving Canada through advancements in public administration and management.

In May 2017, (ISD) Integrated Service Delivery for Children and Youth won the provincial KIRA - Premier’s Awards for Innovation - Public Sector: Integrated Service Delivery for Children and Youth.

Director of Integrated Service Delivery, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Dr. Heather Morrison

Bob Eckstein

Rodney Ghali

Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet of the Innovation Hub at the Privy Council Office, Government of Canada

Bio

Rodney Ghali is the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet of the Innovation Hub at the Privy Council Office, Government of Canada. He is responsible for leading the exploration and execution of new and innovative policy and programmatic approaches, focused on improving impact, accountability and value for Canadians. Prior to his current role, Rodney was Director General of the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention, Public Health Agency of Canada, where he was responsible for overseeing the Federal Government's policy and programs in the areas of healthy living and chronic disease prevention. Previously, Rodney spent a number of years at Health Canada in various positions such as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister and Director of Strategic Policy. He has worked on numerous legislative/regulatory initiatives and health-related issues including: food and consumer product safety, reproductive technologies, aboriginal health, blood safety and mental health. Rodney holds a Master of Science (neurobiology) from McGill University and a Honours Bachelor of Science (genetics) from the University of Western Ontario.

Director of Integrated Service Delivery, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet of the Innovation Hub at the Privy Council Office, Government of Canada

Bobby Cameron

Bio

Bobby Thomas Cameron is the Manager of Policy and Planning at the PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The section he manages is responsible for the development of evidence-based policy advice, planning, and program evaluation. Bobby completed an undergraduate degree in history from UPEI in 2009, and a Master's degree in Public Policy from Ryerson University in 2011. He is currently a PhD candidate in Ryerson's PhD program in Policy Studies. His research is looking at policy practice and policy capacity at the provincial level of government in Prince Edward Island.

Manager of Policy, Planning, and FPT Relations

PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

PhD (candidate), MPPA, CAPM, Credentialed Evaluator (CE)

Elizabeth Hardy

Bobby Cameron

Colleen Hanrahan

PhD

Managing Director, The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy Inc.

Bio

Colleen A. Hanrahan PhD (Public Policy and Public Administration) has extensive experience in public policy research, analysis and development. Dr. Hanrahan is Managing Director of The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy, Inc. a consulting practice based in St. John’s which she founded in 1998. Through her assignments, she assisted clients in setting policy and program directions in areas such as, health services including mental health services, services in the justice system, including correctional facilities, housing, and community health services in indigenous communities.

Prior to working as a consultant, she was a solicitor in the Department of Justice, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and was involved in developing policy positions in areas such the self-governance of professions (White Paper), adoptions policy (Green Paper) and legislation. She served as a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and primarily dealt with cases of child sexual abuse. Currently, is a member of a regional appeal board dealing with municipal governments, and serves on a panel of adjudicators with Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Public Complaints Commission. Dr. Hanrahan is currently a sessional instructor with the Law and Society Program at Memorial University and has been a sessional lecturer at the School of Social Work.

Dr. Hanrahan holds a BA in political science from Memorial University, an MSW from the University of Toronto, and a JD from Dalhousie University. She is a practising member of the NLASW and a non-practicing member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Manager of Policy, Planning, and FPT Relations

PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Managing Director, The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy Inc.

Carl Brothers, P.Eng.

Bio

Carl Brothers, P.Eng., has been a professional engineer for 40 years and has been an active member of the Canadian wind energy community for more than 3 years. He managed Canada’s national wind energy testing laboratory, at North Cape, for 20 years. He then formed Frontier Power Systems, to offer consulting services to the wind energy community. Carl has played a major role in helping Prince Edward Island achieve the impressive levels of wind power installed in the province – wind provides 25% of electricity presently.

Carl and his team at Frontier have also focused on the development of technology to assist remote communities to use wind energy systems in their communities to displace diesel fuel use. They have just shipped their 4th project into western Alaska. They are also presently focused on the development of their “NextGen Arctic Power System” using renewable energy resources with advanced energy storage technologies to increase the levels of diesel fuel displacement in these communities.

Founder and General Manager

Frontier Power Systems

Colleen McCormick

Carl Brothers

Doug Keefe

Interim CEO, Startup Zone

Bio

Doug Keefe is the Interim CEO of Startup Zone, the early-stage business incubator for PEI. He is a passionate supporter of entrepreneurship and building companies that have a strong focus on understanding customer needs before selling solutions. He is actively building partnerships between established businesses, government organizations, and budding entrepreneurs to encourage innovation and entrepreneurial thinking across this broad spectrum of organizations and mindsets.

Prior to this position, he was the founder of Logikl Technology Inc, which advised, and architected SaaS applications across various industries and resulted in multiple acquisitions. Recently, Doug was a Senior Project Manager for Shared Services Canada where he oversaw the management of a portfolio of key IT-based projects. Doug was also the co-founder and CTO of the Charlottetown-based startup, GetGifted Inc. that saw quickly grew to over 20,000 users and delivered millions of dollars in free gifts to its users.

Founder and General Manager, Frontier Power Systems

Interim CEO, Startup Zone

Cheryl Hansen

Bio

Cheryl Hansen has 30+ years’ experience in the public sector, from front-line clinical to management/leadership portfolios, in roles that range from policy maker to CIO. She has particular expertise in managing large-scale organizational change in complex environments, supported by her personal vision of service excellence and execution to achieve outcomes.

Cheryl’s extensive experience in a diverse array of senior executive leadership settings includes the former Extra-Mural Hospital and the Department of Health. She has participated as a director on national boards and has an active history of volunteering for provincial and national associations.

Cheryl’s most recent responsibilities have included provincial direction and leadership for the e-health portfolio as the Executive Director and CIO for Health Business and Technology Solutions for the Province of New Brunswick, Vice President of Enterprise Services for Service New Brunswick, and her current role as ADM of Treasury Board and CIO of the Province.

ADM of Treasury Board and CIO

Government of New Brunswick

Greg Orencsak

Cheryl Hansen

Chief Lisa Cooper

President & Chief of the Native Council of PEI

Bio

Lisa Cooper is the President & Chief of the Native Council of PEI, an Aboriginal Representative Organization that represents and services the off-reserve Aboriginal population in Prince Edward Island. Lisa is a direct descendent of the Mi’kmaq Nation on Prince Edward Island and has been a member of the Native Council since 1975. Prior to being elected as President & Chief in 2015, she has had a long history of involvement with the Native Council which includes that of a Community Developer, Board of Director, and Director of Operations.

Lisa brings with her an extensive education, holding Diplomas in both Legal Secretary and Public Administration, a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Bachelor of Education Degree with a Specialization in both Indigenous Studies and Teaching English as an Alternate Language, and a Master of Education from UPEI. Lisa is also the proud mother of 3 boys, 1 girl, and two granddaughter.

ADM of Treasury Board and CIO, Government of New Brunswick

President & Chief of the Native Council of PEI

Jennifer Hollett

Bio

Jennifer Hollett loves and lives digital. An award winning broadcast journalist, Jenn uses social media to increase participation and mobilization in politics and social issues. She delivered a TEDxTalk on “How To Hate Politics” that outlined how technology is offering new ways to see and connect with politics.

As a television host and reporter, Jenn has worked for the CBC, CTV, and is a former MuchMusic VJ. In 2002, Jenn travelled to Kabul to host A MuchMusic Special: Afghanistan, a Gemini nominated documentary. She hosted the CBC’s G20 Street Level blog during the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto which won a Canadian Online Publishing Award, and was recognized by Amnesty International Canada with a 2009 Media Award for her CBC radio reporting from Israel/Palestine. It was her work in the media that inspired her recent move into politics, looking to move from asking questions to finding answers.

A leading digital expert and visionary, Jenn developed the critically acclaimed ‘Super PAC App’ at the MIT Media Lab, which helped make television campaign ads more transparent to viewers during the 2012 U.S. election. Technologically savvy, Jenn has worked in digital communications since the late ‘90s, when she became the youngest manager ever at Sony Music Canada, and developed new media strategies for the label’s top artists.

Human rights and social justice have been a consistent focus in Jenn’s work. She previously managed e-communications for Plan Canada, worked with Journalists for Human Rights to train journalists in Sierra Leone, and volunteered to create YouthCARE, a youth engagement program with CARE Canada. She is a strong advocate for women’s and girls’ rights, and has been proud to moderate the G(irls)20 Summit in Toronto (2010), Paris (2011), Mexico City (2012), and Moscow (2013).

Jenn has a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Journalism and Communications from Concordia University in Montreal, and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. Jennifer was the 2015 federal NDP candidate in University-Rosedale, one of the country’s top races to watch. She studied public policy at Harvard University, obtaining her MPA, and was the digital director on Olivia Chow’s 2014 Toronto mayoral campaign.

Driven by a passion for social justice, she has worked with Journalists for Human Rights, CARE Canada, and Plan Canada. She is a strong advocate for women’s and girls’ rights, and has moderated the G(irls)20 Summit in Toronto, Paris, Mexico City, Moscow, and Sydney.

Award Winning Broadcast Journalist

Nick Scott

Jennifer Hollett

Michael Baldwin

Assistant Director, Growth & Community Services, City of Fredericton

Bio

Since joining the City of Fredericton in 2009 Michael has held several roles across the organization with responsibilities ranging from sustainable development initiatives, corporate & intergovernmental affairs to information services. In the most recent past, as the Assistant Director, Information, Improvement & Innovation, Michael led the process to design and implement a new state of the art 911/emergency communications dispatch centre, worked to create a new one-stop-shop model for customer service, and led the team to renew the City’s web and social media presence.

In his current role, Michael is the City’s staff lead on intergovernmental affairs and economic development; he assists the Strategic & External Relations Committee of Council in fulfilling its mandate, and plays a senior role in strategic projects and corporate initiatives. He also serves as President of NewMarket Properties Inc. (the City entity that oversees the Boyce Farmers Market), serves as Chair of the Fredericton Convention Centre Board and is a board member of Ignite Fredericton, Fredericton’s regional economic development agency.

Michael has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bishop’s University (1995), a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (2000) and a Master of Philosophy in Policy - Property Studies (2007) both from the University of New Brunswick.

Michael has continued his professional development by taking courses on land and real estate development from the Urban Land Institute in Washington D.C., completed the Executive Leadership program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and most recently completed the Senior Executives in State & Local Government Executive Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Award winning Broadcast Journalist

Assistant Director, Growth & Community Services, City of Fredericton

Kyle Denny

Bio

Kyle Denny is from the Mi’kmaq community of Eskasoni overlooking the beautiful BrasDor Lakes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. He is married to wife Rhonda, with five children and one grandson. His hobbies include playing guitar, fly-fishing, camping and annually attending Marian Pilgrimages in Europe.

His work experience is in ‘Education’. He has taught at the Eskasoni Elementary/Middle School for the duration of 9 years - as a classroom teacher and a program developer for the Empathetic Program. For 7 years, he worked at Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey. Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey (MK) is a collective voice for education that includes 11 out of 13 Mi’kmaw communities of Nova Scotia. As an Elementary Student Success Coordinator of the First Nation Student Success Plan (FNSSP), his work entailed collaboratively working with a team of educators (FNSSP Consultants, Administrators, teachers, NS Department of Education, STFX professors), community members, parents, and various stakeholders that support the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey Elementary School Sites (grade P-6) and Early Childhood Centers.

He is currently working at the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI as the Jordan’s Principle – 1st Child Service Coordinator. This work aims to improve access to health and social services and supports for First Nations children of PEI. This incorporates: Outreach, Intake, assessment/service coordination and case management.

His educational background includes a Masters of Education and Bachelor of Education from Saint Francis Xavier University. He also obtained a Bachelor of Arts of Community Studies from Cape Breton University.

Jordan’s Principle – 1st Child Service Coordinator

Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI

Hon. Michelle Rempel

Kyle Denny

Robert Shepherd

PhD, CE

Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University

Bio

Robert P. Shepherd is Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University. He is responsible for supervising the Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation (DPPE), which is an online program that attracts 20-25 students from around the world annually. He is the current President of the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA), which represents more than twenty graduate and undergraduate schools across Canada. He is also Past-President of the Consortium of Universities for Evaluation Education (CUEE), which represents Canadian graduate schools working in program evaluation.

His research interests concern ethics in government, Canadian administrative reforms, Indigenous public administration and funding models, and policy and program evaluation. He is currently completing a book on ethics case studies for graduate students, and Indigenous government to Crown funding models in an era of reconciliation. In addition, he is a senior researcher and evaluator on a major SSHRC project evaluating youth wellness and empowerment programs in Indigenous communities in northwestern Ontario.

Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University

Peter Crooks

Bio

As Executive Director of Canada’s Smartest Kitchen, Peter Crooks, 2017 Top 50 CEO brings his extensive entrepreneurial, business and product development experience to his team. Under his vision and leadership, the team of twelve has been designed and built to support three key pillars of CSK’s innovation platform - culinary arts, food science and market insight - offering services to global markets and helping to solidify Canada's Food Island as the premier food innovation hub in North America.

Prior to joining CSK in 2012, Peter worked for the National Research Council's (NRC) Institute for Nutrisciences and Health where he was responsible for business development and commercialization of natural health products and functional ingredients. Peter honed is business skills working for nearly a decade in Toronto with early stage science-based startups, sourcing capital and conducting due diligence on emerging technologies for several boutique Bay St. Investment banks.

Before getting into the "business of science", he developed strong research credentials with a Master's degree in Medicine and a former research position at the University of Ottawa's prestigious Heart Institute. Upon leaving the lab bench, Peter's first foray into the inner workings of the federal government was as a senior biotechnology policy advisor to the Life Sciences Branch of Industry Canada, back at a time when genetically modified food, xenotransplantation and genetic testing were dominating the news. Peter co-chaired an international science policy think tank to assist governments in developing regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies and created a two year secretariat at Harvard University.

Peter's passion for disruptive technologies, innovation, natural health products, primary producers, and food, come together in his current role as Executive Director and team leader at CSK. His leadership philosophy is truly about having passion and purpose, orchestrating technical and creative teams, instilling an explorative mindset to drive breakthrough change, while envisioning a better future.

Executive Director of Canada’s Smartest Kitchen

2017 Top 50 CEO

Ryan Conway

Peter Crooks

Saäd Rafi

Partner and the National Public Sector Leader at Deloitte LLP

Bio

Saäd Rafi is a Partner and the National Public Sector Leader at Deloitte LLP, a global leader in serving the public sector.

He was most recently the CEO of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan Administration Corporation (ORPPAC). He joined the organization in January 2016. Rafi was responsible for implementation the Ontario Pension Plan; and, the ORPPAC has been credited with helping to galvanize the provinces and federal government in achieving a national CPP Enhancement.

Prior to this role, Rafi was the CEO of the Toronto2015 Pan Am Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee. Under his leadership the Organizing Committee delivered the largest multi-sport event in Canadian history. In addition, the Organizing Committee delivered a very successful Games and returned $106 Million back to the Provincial and Federal governments.

Prior to this role Rafi was the Deputy Minister of Health and Long Term Care, from 2010 to 2014. During his tenure the Ministry undertook the most ambitious and significant transformation of the health system in a generation.

Rafi has held the following Deputy Minister positions during his 24 year OPS career: Community Safety (formerly Public Safety and Policing Services), Transportation and Energy and Infrastructure. He was first appointed to the role of Deputy Minister in February 2003.

From 2005 to 2008, Rafi was a partner at Deloitte and Touche, LLP where he started and successfully built a national Infrastructure Advisory and Project Finance practice.

He has also held senior management positions in the Ministries of Economic Development and Trade, Cabinet Office, Transportation, and the Ontario SuperBuild Corporation, an Agency of the Ministry of Finance.

Executive Director of Canada’s Smartest Kitchen

2017 Top 50 CEO

Partner and National Public Sector Leader at Deloitte LLP

Richard Saillant

Bio

Richard Saillant is a Moncton-based economist and author. Richard is a former vice-president of the Université de Moncton and former director of the Donald J. Savoie Institute, a public policy research organization. He has also spent nearly fifteen years in Ottawa in various departments, including the Privy Council Office, Industry Canada and Transport Canada. Immediately prior to returning to New Brunswick in 2011, Richard was a director general at Industry Canada, where he advised the government on large foreign takeover proposals, including BHP's failed attempt to acquire Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, the largest takeover proposal in Canadian history.

Richard is the author of four books, including Over the Cliff? Acting Now to Avoid New Brunswick's Bankruptcy (2014) and Shale Gas in New Brunswick: Towards a Better Understanding (2014, co-edited with David Campbell). His most recent book, A Tale of Two Countries: How the Great Demographic Imbalance is Pulling Canada Apart (Nimbus, 2016) was a finalist for the National Business Book Award.

Economist and Author

Yazmine Laroche

Richard Saillant

Alex Conliffe

Director, Policy Innovation Platform, Brookfield Foundation

Bio

Alexandra Conliffe is the Director of the Policy Innovation Platform at the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship. The Platform supports the continuous adoption of policy innovation methods and tools by policymakers in order to deliver better public policies, programs and services for all Canadians.

Between 2013-16, Alex was VP Operations at Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB), a movement of 40,000 Canadian and African leaders working together to end poverty and inequality through innovations in targeted sectors, including Global Engineering Education in Canada, Small and Growing Businesses in Africa, and Responsible Mining globally. Prior to that, Alex was a Senior Policy Analyst at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Canada's agriculture negotiator at the United Nations climate change negotiations.

Alex holds a doctorate in Geography and a master's in Environmental Management from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She earned a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, where she was a Loran Scholar. She is a member of the Institute on Governance Board of Directors, and of McGill's Faculty of Engineering Advisory Board.

Economist and author

Director, Policy Innovation Platform, Brookfield Foundation

William J. Montelpare

Bio

Professor William J. Montelpare, Ph.D., graduated from the University of Toronto with a Ph.D. in Community Health specializing in Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Exercise Science. His academic career began at Brock University in St. Catharines in 1986 as an assistant Professor in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, where he served as the first Director of the Health Studies Program from 1991-1998. In July 1998, Dr. Montelpare moved to Lakehead University where he served as the Director of the School of Kinesiology, and later the Acting Dean of Graduate Studies, wherein he co-developed the first Masters of Public Health (MPH) program to be offered in Canada, and to be offered completely online. In 2010 he held a Research Chair as Professor of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Leeds (Leeds, UK).

In July 2012 he returned to Canada to accept the Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health at the University of Prince Edward Island.

As the Scientific Lead for the PEI SPOR: Primary and Integrated Healthcare Innovation Network, he is continuing to develop health and wellness opportunities through the Patient Centered Research Clinic at UPEI, and through studies on establishing a better evaluation criteria for return to work/play decisions following concussion, in addition to his research on human development from pre-conception through gestation to the first 2000 days.

Scientific Lead for the PEI SPOR: Primary and Integrated Healthcare Innovation Network

Ph.D

Alicia Bruce

William J. Montelpare

Alma MacDougall

Cultural Support Worker, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI Residential School Program

Bio

Alma MacDougall, B.Sc.N., R.N.

Alma MacDougall is an Aboriginal Registered Nurse from the Abegweit First Nation community. She has experience working in the Aboriginal health and community health nursing within a First Nations Community. Alma graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2001. Alma was the first Aboriginal Registered Nurse to work in Abegweit First Nation and worked there for three and half years.

Alma also has experience working with Elders and has experience working in Long Term Care for ten years.

Alma has worked at the local and national levels for Aboriginal and government organizations on various health issues.

Alma has presented to a number of forums:

the Romanow Commission

the Blueprint for the Future of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation,

University of Prince Edward Island Nursing classes

Canadian Institute for Health Research.

She has also presented at the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission, June 2010.

Alma has also presented various educational classes such as: Prenatal health, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Indian Residential School and Mi’kmaq Culture.

Alma is also known for her work in promoting Mi’kmaq culture and health issues in Prince Edward Island. Alma is passionate about Aboriginal Health issues and her main goal of training as a nurse was to help improve the health of the Mi’kmaq people of Prince Edward Island. Alma has represented PEI as a past Board Member of the Aboriginal Nurse’s Association of Canada.

Alma currently works as the Resolution Health Support Worker/ Cultural Support Provider for the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI supporting Indian Residential School Survivors and their families on Prince Edward Island. She has worked in this position since 2009 and continues to train and specialize in Trauma, PTSD as well as addictions. She has worked in Regional and National in this capacity. On a personal level, Alma is an amateur artist, who works in various mediums. She is most known for her photography and painting but also works with traditional crafts such as beading, leatherwork, and ceramics.

Scientific Lead for the PEI SPOR: Primary and Integrated Healthcare Innovation Network

Cultural Support Worker, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI Residential School Program

Samantha Donaldson

Bio

Samantha has 15 years of professional experience in the federal government and nonprofit sectors. For the past eight years, Samantha has held a number of roles on the communications team at the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service. In her current role, she is responsible for the Partnership's communications agenda and brand ensuring the organization's messaging is clear, compelling and consistent. She also provides strategic direction and leadership over the organization's media relations and social media strategies. Prior to the Partnership for Public Service, Samantha spent four years working in public affairs in the federal government.

Communications Director

Partnership for Public Service

Chris MacPherson

Samantha Donaldson

Chris Zhou

Prime Minister's Youth Council - Prince Edward Island Representative

Bio

As a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, Chris Zhou believes that a leader’s duty is not to collect more followers, but to foster new leaders. Leading by empowerment, Chris provides young people around him with the skills and opportunities to become the leaders of today. He currently studies Health Sciences at McMaster University where he co-coordinates the city’s Collective Impact project on youth employment. Having dedicated more than 1,000 hours of community service to the Island that welcomed his family with generous hearts, Chris recently gave a Walrus Talk in Charlottetown about selfish volunteerism. (https://youtu.be/SgoAYL1h9xI)

Communications Director

Partnership for Public Service

Prime Minister's Youth Council - Prince Edward Island Representative

Robert Hughes

Bio

Robert has been the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Stratford since 1999. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and a Diploma in Public Management from Henson College at Dalhousie University.

Robert has served on many boards and committees over his thirty plus year career in engineering and municipal administration, including serving on the Board of Engineers PEI, serving as President of the Association of Municipal Administrators of PEI and serving as President of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.

Robert has long been an advocate for, and early adopter of, leading practices in governance in order to improve decisions and outcomes in municipalities. This approach led to the culture of Sustainability that is now evident in all of Stratford’s planning and actions.

Robert and his wife Debby live in Stratford and have two children who are now young adults pursuing their own careers and dreams.

Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Stratford

Chrystia Chudzak

Robert Hughes

Clara Pasieka

York University

Bio

Clara Pasieka is preparing to graduate from York University's Masters in Public Policy, Law and Public Administration program in October 2017. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction from the University of Toronto in Political Science and Theatre and is an alumnus of the Jack Layton Leadership School at Ryerson University. She was elected as the youngest Vice President of the union, ACTRA Toronto, in 2016. She has been the co-chair of ACTRA Toronto's youth committee, YEAA, for performers who play 17-30 on screen, since 2013. Clara has spoken at the Ontario legislature towards bill 17 (originally 71) and the Canadian Labour Congress about the needs of young performers and precarious workers. She has been involved in small p political groups and with various non-partisan Get Out the Vote efforts since before #VoteSelfie was a thing. When not working in government relations, public administration or activism, she is an actor, writer and producer. She is currently best known as Amy Dudley on Reign (CW) and as series regular Clara Walker on the Canadian Screen Award nominated, Inhuman Condition (Shaftesbury/Smokebomb). Her current screenwriting involves grappling with the complexities of multiculturalism from various perspectives.

Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Stratford

York University

Richard Rochefort

Bio

Richard Rochefort is an expert in management, leadership and learning in the public sector. He is perfectly bilingual. He is a certified executive coach, excellent facilitator and outstanding public speaker. He has extensive experience facilitating strategic planning sessions, executive retreats, management forums and staff general assemblies. Through storytelling, practical examples and interactive exercises, he delivers dynamic workshops, learning sessions and keynote addresses on various topics such as leadership, teamwork, service excellence and organizational culture change. He served as a senior executive for 23 of his 35 years in the Public Service of Canada. He retired in 2012 as Vice-President (ADM) of the Canada School of Public Service and prior to that, served for six years as Senior Director General of the Service Canada College. Throughout his career, he devoted relentless effort to the renewal of the public service using coaching, mentoring and learning as strategic levers to create and sustain a culture of public service excellence. He is currently working internationally and across Canada on reinforcing public institutions.

Book your room at one of the other hotels with discounted conference rates

Accommodations

A preferential rate of $229 CDN (single/double room) has been reserved at the Delta Prince Edward Hotel for conference participants.

After July 24, 2017, reservations will be handled on a rate availability basis and rate adjustments after check in will not be made.

A deposit equal to one night's stay is required to hold delegate's reservation at the time of reservation. Cancellation of individual reservations made up to 24 hours prior to arrival will be accepted, and the deposit refunded for the full night stay.

No show charges will apply if a delegate does not arrive on the date of their reservation.

Be sure to state that you're with “IPAC – 2017”to receive our special group rate by July 24, 2017

(located within walking distance or a short ride to the Delta Prince Edward Hotel and Convention Centre)